title: Effect of nighttime aircraft noise exposure on endothelial function and stress hormone release in healthy adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aircraft noise disturbs sleep, and long-term exposure has been shown to be associated with increases in the prevalence of hypertension and an overall increased risk for myocardial infarction. The exact mechanisms responsible for these cardiovascular effects remain unclear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We performed a blinded field study in 75 healthy volunteers (mean age 26 years), who were exposed at home, in random order, to one control pattern (no noise) and two different noise scenarios [30 or 60 aircraft noise events per night with an average maximum sound pressure level (SPL) of 60 dB(A)] for one night each. We performed polygraphy during each study night. Noise caused a worsening in sleep quality (P < 0.0001). Noise60, corresponding to equivalent continuous SPLs of 46.3 dB (Leq) and representing environmental noise levels associated with increased cardiovascular events, caused a blunting in FMD (P = 0.016). As well, although a direct comparison among the FMD values in the noise groups (control: 10.4 ± 3.8%; Noise30: 9.7 ± 4.1%; Noise60: 9.5 ± 4.3%, P = 0.052) did not reach significance, a monotone dose-dependent effect of noise level on FMD was shown (P = 0.020). Finally, there was a priming effect of noise, i.e. the blunting in FMD was particularly evident when subjects were exposed first to 30 and then to 60 noise events (P = 0.006). Noise-induced endothelial dysfunction (ED) was reversed by the administration of Vitamin C (P = 0.0171). Morning adrenaline concentration increased from 28.3 ± 10.9 to 33.2 ± 16.6 and 34.1 ± 19.3 ng/L (P = 0.0099). Pulse transit time, reflecting arterial stiffness, was also shorter after exposure to noise (P = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In healthy adults, acute nighttime aircraft noise exposure dose-dependently impairs endothelial function and stimulates adrenaline release. Noise-induced ED may be in part due to increased production in reactive oxygen species and may thus be one mechanism contributing to the observed association of chronic noise exposure with cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basner
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kröger
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weck
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schnorbus
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muttray
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sariyar
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Binder
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gori
authors.forename: Ascan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Warnholtz
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Münzel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000401:Aircraft; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009624:Noise, Transportation; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004837:Epinephrine
keywords: Aircraft noise; Cardiovascular risk; Endothelial function